East Hertfordshire

East Hertfordshire's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 140,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of East Hertfordshire increased by 6.8%, from almost 129,000 to 138,000.

The addition of almost 8,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Hertfordshire was home to, on average, 2.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More people living alone

This area saw Eastof England's largest rise in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, Dacorum saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-person households (from 27% in 2001 to 29% in 2011).

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in East Hertfordshire had only a single person, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in East Hertfordshire that rented privately increased from 8.2% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of East Hertfordshire households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in East Hertfordshire increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Hertfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in East Hertfordshire decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.8% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of East Hertfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Hertfordshire decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in East Hertfordshire

The number of people in East Hertfordshire from the White ethnic groups remained close to 130,000 between the last two seasons. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 95%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in East Hertfordshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 1,700 in 2001 to about 2,700 in 2011 (from 1.4% to 2.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,200 to about 2,200 (from 0.9% to 1.6%).

About 980 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 490 in 2001 (0.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in East Hertfordshire decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Hertfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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